The softly-spoken Kenyan is far too polite ever to express any resentment, and probably too gracious a man to harbour any, but he did reveal that he had spoken to the Jamaican sprinter about possibly going head-to-head on the track.

'I knew if I could do something special tonight, it would be great for me'

"He used to run 400 metres," Rudisha said. "I also run 400 metres early in the season and we were just making fun, and saying that maybe just one time we should race over 400m and see who wins, it would be great.

"Usain Bolt is the greatest sprinter I have ever seen. People love Bolt because of his great achievements. I knew if I could do something special tonight, it would be great for me."

After single-handedly rescuing the two-lap race from the domination of tactical sprint finishers, there are some who believe that Rudisha should be as big a name as Bolt.

Image: Kenya's David Lekuta Rudisha crosses the line to win the men's 800-meterPhotographs: Lee Jin-man/AP Photo

Rudisha's humility stands out

Rudisha shattered Wilson Kipketer's 13-year-old World record in 2010 and improved it again the following week as he went unbeaten at 34 meetings until the end of last season.

His sensational 2010 saw him succeed Bolt as IAAF world athlete of the year but the difference in profile between the pair is not difficult to explain when you have spent any time in their company.

Bolt is athletics as Rock 'n' Roll, oozing charisma, striking dramatic poses before and after his races, speaking confidently to the media and surrounded in public by a posse of assistants and advisors.

The only thing remotely showy about Rudisha is a slender gold chain around his neck and he makes much of the humility of his Maasai tribe.